CEILING function
CEILING rounds a number up to the next multiple you choose: the next 5, the next dozen, the next quarter hour. Use it for order quantities that come in packs, prices that end on a set step, or time billed in blocks.
- Available in
- Every current version
- Category
- Math functions
- Returns
- The smallest multiple of significance that is at least number. Negative numbers round up toward zero.
Syntax
=CEILING(number, [significance])
| Argument | Required? | What it is |
|---|---|---|
number | Required | The value to round up. |
significance | Optional | The multiple to round up to, such as 5, 12 or 0.25. Excel requires it in CEILING; CEILING.MATH makes it optional. |
Examples
Each result below is calculated from the sample sheet by our formula engine, the same one that grades the practice.
| Cell | Formula | Result | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| D2 | =CEILING(B2,5) | 25 | Up to the next multiple of 5: 23 becomes 25 |
| D3 | =CEILING(B3,0.25) | 4.25 | Up to the next quarter: 4.12 hours becomes 4.25 |
| D4 | =CEILING(B4,2) | -2 | For a negative number, rounding up moves toward zero: -2.5 becomes -2 |
Try it live
This is the sample sheet. Change any number or text, or edit a formula, and the results update.
Show the sample data as a table
| Item | Amount | Rounded up | |
| Shipping weight (lb) | 23 | 25 | |
| Labor hours | 4.12 | 4.25 | |
| Credit | -2.5 | -2 |
Practice CEILING
Graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data.
Order in full packs
D2, use CEILING to round each quantity needed up to a whole number of packs, using the pack size in column C. Fill down to D6.Common mistakes
| What you see | Why, and how to fix it |
|---|---|
| #NUM! | number is positive but significance is negative, such as =CEILING(2.5,-2). Use a positive significance. |
| Excel says too few arguments | CEILING needs significance. Use =CEILING(A2,1) for whole numbers, or CEILING.MATH(A2), where it's optional. |
| Wanted the nearest multiple, not the next one up | CEILING always goes up. Use MROUND to round to whichever multiple is closer. |
Tips
- Packs of different sizes? Point significance at a cell: =CEILING(B2,C2) rounds each quantity up to its own pack size.
Questions
How do I round up to the nearest 0.5 in Excel?
Use =CEILING(A2,0.5). 3.1 becomes 3.5 and 3.6 becomes 4.
What is the difference between CEILING and ROUNDUP?
ROUNDUP rounds to decimal places or powers of ten. CEILING rounds up to any multiple, such as 5 or 12.
What is CEILING.MATH?
A newer version (Excel 2013 and later) where significance is optional and a third argument controls how negative numbers round.
Last reviewed October 2026. Every example result on this page is calculated live by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine.